To the editor:

My name is Vivian Lang. I am a 16-year-old girl who has advanced to the Patriot Level with the American Heritage Girls (AHG). AHG is a faith-based scouting program similar to the Girl Scouts. As you earn merit badges you also learn life skills. We also do fun activities and go camping

This past year my unit earned the “Auto Care & Safety”, “Rock Climbing” and “Entrepreneurship” merit badges.

Another important part of AHG is service. We do multiple services projects throughout the year. A fun and important service project that we previously completed is packing duffel bags for foster children. Recently Sam’s Club on Lemay Ferry Road allowed us to set up a table outside their exit to collect money and donations of goods that are needed to fill the duffle bags. We call these duffels “Hugs Bags”.

Hugs bags are for kids that are removed from an unsafe living environment, sometimes in the middle of the night and usually only with the clothes on their back, to be taken into a foster care home. The Hugs bags provide them with the basic necessities they will need in foster care until their new foster care parents can provide for them. We pack them with age-appropriate clothes, toiletries such as soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, and other things they can call their own. They get a Bible, a special toy and blanket, plus a poem with the names of the girls that packed their bag

This past year we packed 79 Hugs bags for children ranging in age from infants to teenagers and delivered them to One Heart Family Ministry for distribution. If you have ever known a child in foster care, you know how important it is for them to be hugged and loved and feel secure.

My AHG troop is chartered by South County Baptist Church and donations are accepted year-round. Thank you.

Vivian Lang
Affton